Arsenal agree £30m deal for 32-goal striker as Sanchez replacement

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Arsenal will lodge an attempt to sign Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, should Alexis Sanchez be sold during this summer’s transfer window. The Chile international has played hardball in negotiations over the past year with the Gunners’ reluctant to come close to his wage demands.

Sanchez is currently on an extended break following his international exploits at the Confederations Cup, but he appears to have cast doubts on his future after he told a local Chile Radio station that he wants to play and win the Champions League.

“My idea is to play and win the Champions League, it is a dream I have had since I was little,” he is quoted as saying through The Guardian.

Arsenal are said to value Sanchez at around £50m, and Wenger could sanction the player’s sale at that price as it would be considered as ‘economic madness’ to ignore the sum, The Star claims.

The long-standing manager has also identified Moussa Dembele as a potential recruit to replace Sanchez in the ranks following an impressive debut season in Glasgow where he bagged 32 goals across all competitions.

The France Under-21 international guided the Hoops to a domestic treble last term, and there is every possibility that he could move to the Premier League, should Brendan Rodgers’ side receive the right price for his signature.

Dembele is currently valued at around £30m, but this valuation could quite easily jump up given the massive sums spent by clubs on recruits this summer.

Sanchez has yet to say yes to a new contract worth £300,000 a week, and his association with Arsenal looks likely to end this summer unless he has a change of thought in the coming weeks.